I have my copy...

I just received my copy of Virtuoso Teams yesterday. I'm finishing up Our Underachieving Colleges by Derek Bok and I need something a bit more uplifting. I should be ready to start reading next week. I'm ready to set a goal of reading and then beginning our conversation. I don't want to presume to set the goal or the timeline. Anyone want to take a stab at it.

Just for fun, I want to share an e-mail exchange with the student with whom I've been reading for the last 3 years (the one who I noted in my storytelling and stimulated the idea of our reading group). His text to me was:
Denny --

Its a pleasure (as always) to hear from you. It is wonderful and refreshing to hear about LeaderShape, the cyber group and your (impressive) summer reading list. Given our adventures with cyber communication -- I am curious as to your hope to promote genuine dialogue about the text?

In the insanity of my departure from Oxford -- I only had a chance to pick up a few books. So far, I have managed to read Mountains Beyond Mountains (the book about Paul Farmer), Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (the other book my Jonathan Safran Foer). Up next is "What is the What (the summer reading book).

The experience here has truly been illuminating - and parts of it have shaken me to my absolute core. However, beyond that, seeing how this experience is effecting opening the eyes of the Miami volunteers has left me speechless (not to mention incredibly inspired). More to come on that later.

How are you? How is Oxford?

Best,

TJ

I responded this morning:
Dear TJ - Thanks for your response on Tanzania #2. It sounds like you have been pushed to the brink of enlightenment. That's an odd way of characterizing your experience but anything that challenges our assumptions and presses us to reunderstand our illusions is most likely a good thing. I know that when I have become disillusioned it usually fortells a breakthrough. You will understand when you need the insight and you will become aware at a depth that will allow you to do what you need to do. (I'm sounding more like Wilber every day!)

It's strange how good it felt to put the previous paragraph together in my own head. I was unusually pressed to think of things in different ways through our ongoing personal study and dialogue. I really miss not having you to explore these important issues. However, knowing you (us) as I do, I hope our cyber-communication will keep us both moving ahead.

Which leads me to your hesitation about the cyber-reading group on Virtuoso Teams... I think that if people have intimate intellectual and/or spiritual connections, they can achieve a level of engagement via electronic communication that we were not able to do on Campfire. My thinking was flawed in our work because I thought that my relationships with the alumni and your relationships with the students would create a sense of shared journey and trust that would allow a greater depth of communication. I think what we found out is that our interlocking networks wasn't enough. Everyone should have had a level of intimacy in order for all to feel comfortable exploring big questions - worthy dreams. The LeaderShape reading group had a very deep spiritual connection that I hope we can maintain. At least it's worth a try...

I hope that the dynamics with which you were struggling have come into focus, if not resolved themselves. There may not be an answer now but what is wonderful is that you are more deeply aware of the challenges to your vision. And, you have the other student participants who will be witness to it as well. Please let me know how I can support them on their return. I don't know if Meredith will engage with me on the implications of Tanzania but be sure to express my willingness to her or others who need a place to sort out the experience.

Life is good in Oxford. I'm working on reports, writing, and planning.

Miss you...
Denny

Maybe this will help us think of how we will communicate in the coming weeks and months... Thoughts?